Apple’s long-rumored OLED iPad mini just got a fresh launch update, and it looks like fans will be waiting longer than expected.
While earlier reports suggested the upgraded mini could drop “as early as next year,” a reliable leaker has now tightened that window, and not in the way most buyers were hoping.
Updated Timeline Points to Late 2026 Release
According to leaker Instant Digital, the new OLED iPad mini is not coming in the first half of 2026. In two new Weibo posts, he claims the earliest Apple will release the device is Q3 or Q4 2026, which means a launch somewhere between September and December next year.
This revised timing lines up with Apple’s previous release pattern. The last two generations of the iPad mini arrived in late fall with one in September and the other in October, so an autumn 2026 debut for the OLED model fits Apple’s usual strategy.
What to Expect from the OLED Upgrade
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has already reported that Apple is planning a major display upgrade for the next iPad mini, shifting from an LCD panel to a vivid OLED screen. This would bring the mini in line with the newest iPad Pro models, offering deeper blacks, better contrast, richer colors, and improved power efficiency.
And while Apple is expected to refresh the base iPad and iPad Air earlier in the year, the mini appears to be following its own schedule. So anyone waiting specifically for the OLED iPad mini will need a bit more patience, at least until fall 2026.
Comments